"It has been a part of the skyline for almost 100 years. Bridging the past with the present, the D&F Clock Tower still captures the imagination of those who see it.
Construction of the tower, which was part of the Daniels and Fisher Department store, started in November 1910. William Cooke Daniels originally commissioned the tower to stand adjacent to his five-story department store. When completed it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River.
It was modeled after The Campanile at the Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy. The May company bought out Daniels & Fisher in the 1950s. The tower was then known as the May D&F Tower.
Over the years the ownership history of the 330-foot tower has been as dramatic as the structure itself. The building has changed hands over and over and the tower was close to being torn down a number of times.
The unique revolving doors in the front of the building are duplicates of what was originally used.
Fred Larkin owns four of the 18 floors of the tower.
"The ceiling of the lobby has been fully restored. It is as fireproof as a building can be. It is concrete and steel and will be here in another 100 years," he said.
There are business offices on every floor. The only level which the general public has access to is the basement. Local entertainer Lannie Garrett owns Lannie's Clock Tower Cabaret.
On the fourth floor is where Larkin's photography studio is located. Stunning views of the 16th Street Mall can be seen from every angle.
"We can spend the whole day here," he said marveling at the view. "When we first got here there wasn't a mall, it was just 16th Street."
The clock itself is the original. On what was once an observation deck on the 17th floor is a tribute to some of the men who built the tower. A section of the wall has been preserved that has signatures and dates from the workers. All are dated 1910.
To reach the bell tower and the very top, you must use a 50-foot spiral staircase. It too is the original. Twice a year a professional climber will scale the flagpole and replace the American flag."
(12/28/07 Copyright KUSA*TV. All rights reserved.) (
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